Predictions for the NFL Playoffs

So the playoffs are finally upon us and the Super Bowl winner is only 6 weeks away from being crowned. This year has plenty of surprising candidates whom have come across great controversies.

This includes the Atlanta Falcons who just one year ago were 4-12 and had lost their spineless head coach with only three games left in the season and lost their starting Quarterback to the law.

The Baltimore Ravens who just one year ago were 4-12 lost their long time head coach whom had taken them to a Super Bowl victory and has an aging defence.

The Philadelphia Eagles whom in week 12 had benched their starting Quarterback in Donovan McNabb and sent turmoil throughout the Philly fans.

Then there's the Miami Dolphins who went from a 1-15 season with nothing to a 11-5 record with a new coach, VP, and Quarterback.

Wild Card

Arizona vs. Atlanta

Many experts put the Cardinals as a one and done team in the playoffs but unlike the Falcons whom have a rising rookie Quarterback in Matt Ryan, the Cardinals have a Quarterback who has been to two Super Bowls and has won one.

With Kurt Warner's experience in the post-season and his two pro-bowl receivers, whom are two of the three 1,000 yard receivers on the Cardinal football team.

People also knocked the Arizona Cardinals for a lack of a running game and for most of the year that was true but last week against the Seattle Seahawks Edgerrin James showed why it is that he was a former first round runningback.

Then we have the Atlanta Falcons who with the dangerous running skills of Michael "The Burner" Turner and the passing skills of the Offensive rookie of the Year Matt Ryan have become a playoff team once again since the departure of Michael Vick.

The Cardinals will have to not only rely on the arm of two-time League MVP Kurt Warner, but also the hard hitting running style of Edgerrin James as I think they will defeat the rebuilding Atlanta Falcons in a close game, 26-21.

Minnesota vs. Philadelphia

Everyone has heard of the hard running style of possible league MVP Adrian Peterson, who leads the league in rushing yards, and the Quarterback carousal that began in Week Three and re-sprung in week 15 after Gus Frerotte went down and Tarvaris Jackson started to show potential and was named the starter for the remainder of the season.

Then we have the rejuvenated Donovan Mcnabb who set an Eagles record in passing Yards this season as he led them to a 9-6-1 record and is looking like that Quarterback that led them to a Super Bowl just four years ago.

With the versatility of Brian Westbrook and the passing Skills of Donovan Mcnabb the Eagles will trump the Vikings, 32-17.

Miami vs. Baltimore

This is probably the best storyline for a playoff game this year as the bottom feeders of the NFL last year square off here in the playoffs. The Miami Dolphins led by the accuracy of Chad Pennington, a powerful defense, the Wildcat formation, and the record setting 13 giveaways team will play Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens who are anchored by Ray Lewis and his hard hitting defense.

The Dolphins took the NFL by storm this year as they where able to multiply their win total from a year ago by 11 and electrified defenses with their Wildcat offense. The Baltimore defense looking like the team that took them to a Super Bowl victory in 2000 and is being led by a surprising rookie Quarterback in Joe Flacco.

I see the Baltimore Ravens doing to the Dolphins what they did earlier in the year and beating them, 24-10.

San Diego vs. Indianapolis

The controversies surrounding this Chargers season as they lost plenty of games this year at the last minute and the infamous "fumble call" of Week Two. Then we have the Indianapolis Colts who started off 3-4 then with the leadership abilities of the future Hall of Fame, two-time MVP, MVP candidate Quarterback in Peyton Manning have been on an nine-game winning streak.

The Chargers have been having problems with their Hall of Fame runningback as LT has been playing injured all year, but have found a new weapon as Phillip Rivers has showed off why he was drafted fourth overall in 2004.

The Colts tote the worst running game in the NFL, but also one of the best passing attacks in the NFL as Peyton Maning has led them to 12-4 record and had his 9th 4,000-yard passing season in his 11 year career.

This will be the another installment in the Colts and Chargers rivalry that has been rising in the past few years as the Colts sneak by in OT, 37-34.

Division

Giants vs. Eagles

This is assuming this is the way the playoff picture would look after the Wild Card. Eli Manning has started to look like that first overall pick Quarterback from 2004 as he has led the Giants to his fourth consecutive playoff appearance and hopes to repeat the success he had last year against the New England Patriots.

The Giants have been led by the very hard running skills of their tank-like runningback Brandon Jacobs and the great passing skills of Eli Manning as they have won Home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The last time these two teams met the Eagles beat the Giants 20-14, but this match-up feels like there will be a different tune as these two rival teams will duke it out till the very end as it will end in an OT win by the New York Giants, 39-33.

Panthers vs.Cardinals

The Panthers are rallying off a huge win over the Saints but a huge loss to the Giants in OT. The Two-headed monster in Carolina of Deangalo Williams and Jon Stewart will prove to be a difficult match up for the Cardinals but the MVP playing style of Kurt Warner will lead the Cardinals to the Championship game as they will soar over the Panthers 47-44.

Titans vs. Ravens

The Titans started off their season at a remarkable 10-0 but went 3-3 after a loss to Brett Favre and the Jets. The Titans are led by veteran Quarterback Kerry Collins who has a bit of Super Bowl experience in his career as he led the Giants to a Super Bowl berth in 2000 only to lose to the Baltimore Ravens.

The Titans also have Slash and Dash, or LenDale White and Chris Johnson who have proven to be one of the most dangerous running duo's in NFL history, and are anchored by a very powerful defence. This game though will be nowhere near close, as I see the Baltimore Ravens pouncing upon the Titans in a 34-17.

Steelers vs. Colts

Ben Rothlisberger has been amazing in his young career as he has led the Steelers to his four postseason appearance in five years. The Steel Curtain is ranked No. 1 in the NFL as they where led to their 2nd straight divisional title in 2 years.

The Steeler nation was in shock last week as Ben was taken down in the final game of the season, but it was reported that he should be ready for the postseason.

This will be a rematch of the 2005 playoff game between the two, but unlike last time the Steelers will not take this win home with them as the Colts give the Steelers their second straight one-and-done postseason, winning, 16-14.

Conference

Giants vs.Cardinals

These two teams met earlier in the season and it ended off with a Giants 37-29 victory at the location of their Super Bowl run. Kurt Warners spectacular passing skills will not be enough as Brandon Jacobs will run all over the Arizona Cardinals as the Giants will win, 31-21.

Colts vs. Ravens

Peyton Manning and the Colts will ride their 11 game win streak to 12 as they will up their former homes new residents yet again as they did in 2006 in order to cristen in their new stadium with its first playoff win, 22-12.

Super Bowl

Giants vs. Colts

The Manning brothers will meet for only the second time in their careers in the biggest games of their careers as both of them go for their second Super Bowl ring.

Eli will continue to ride upon his post-season carpet ride from last year as he will play one of the best games of his career as his Hall of Fame brother Peyton will put on just as great of a show as this game just screams shootout as the Manning brothers refuse to lose to one another.

This game will come down to whoever has the last possession as Eli Manning leads the Giants to a victory over his big brother Peyton, 47-44.

Yes, I understand that it is highly doubtful that the Giants defense would give up 44 points, but I see it happening.